The news articles do not do justice to the suppression of freedom of speech in America and other questions about political ethics revealed by this
you tube video.
Yeah, he was rude and should have shown more mature manners, but this is really police over-reaction - and the police wouldn't even listen to John Kerry telling them to let the guy alone. Of course, Kerry didn't display a "take charge" attitude over the situation. Ironically, that in itself probably answered the student's question...
edit to add - here's another one that shows what happened after he was dragged out.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NWukZhsiBw&NR=1
This guy is really freaked out - and I can't blame him. All the funky, back room stuff people suspect the government of doing, plus the effects of being tasered with 6 or 7 cops standing over him. Telling the guy to calm down after being tasered reminds me of my father smacking me repeatedly because I "refused" to stop crying. People, especially those in positions of power, have to learn to think, and reason the difference between what is effective and why, and what is not effective and why.